California Launches Quantum Innovation Zones to Boost Industry
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 940, establishing 'quantum innovation zones' across California. These zones aim to nurture projects turning Bay Area research into a trillion-dollar industry, with a focus on secure telecommunications and precision sensing applications.
The innovation zones will offer tax incentives, streamlined permitting, and access to state-funded research grants, creating a low-barrier environment for companies to establish and grow. They will combine state incentives, academic expertise, and private capital to accelerate quantum technology development beyond laboratories.
In UC Berkeley's quantum labs, Governor Newsom witnessed firsthand the potential of this field. He saw a one-centimetre processor containing a dozen qubits, tiny superconducting circuits that can exist in multiple states simultaneously. Assistant Professor Alp Sipahigil is developing a curriculum that blends quantum physics with chip design to bridge the gap between theory and hardware.
The proposed Quantum Nexus, to be based in the San Francisco Bay Area, will serve as a hub for students, researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers. It aims to accelerate academic breakthroughs into commercial products. Institutions focused on advancing quantum science and technology are established in these zones, including research centers, startups, and collaborative industry partnerships.
Professor Dan Stamper-Kurn's cold-atom experiment showcased a different approach to quantum coherence for longer periods, crucial for quantum sensors.
California's investment in quantum research signals a recognition of its vast potential. The quantum innovation zones, with their supportive ecosystem, are expected to foster growth and innovation in this cutting-edge field. The bill aims to identify projects and programs that best utilize public dollars to support the development of the quantum computing economy.
